Effect of Short-Term Simulated Rain Exposure on the Performance of Cross-Laminated Timber Angle Bracket Connections
Publication: Journal of Architectural Engineering
Volume 28, Issue 4
Abstract
Connections play a vital role in the transfer of lateral forces and energy dissipation in cross-laminated timber (CLT) structural systems. However, moisture exposure (e.g., rain during or after construction) can affect the durability of CLT structural members and their connections due to the hygroscopic nature of wood. Limited knowledge exists on the moisture performance of CLT connections. Therefore, in this study, a CLT shear wall-to-diaphragm angle bracket connection was exposed to simulated rain and relative humidity cycling (wetting) and subsequent redrying followed by mechanical loading cyclic testing. Four wood species (Douglas-fir, southern pine, Norway spruce, and spruce-pine-fir) and three wetting durations were applied to understand the effect of moisture intrusion on the connection performance, which was evaluated in terms of strength, stiffness, and energy dissipation. Two force–displacement backbone models were fitted to the experimental data. The results suggest a statistically significant increase (9%–15% for different species) in the peak strength and no change in the stiffness and energy dissipation capacity after the wetting and redrying cycles. However, additional studies should be conducted to gain further insight into the observed increase in load-carrying capacity. Additionally, the authors caution against considering any strength increase until further studies are conducted.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the USDA NIFA AFRI Foundational Program for providing funding for this project (Grant No. 2018-67021-27718). Some aspects of the work were supplementally funded through a USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS 58-0204-6-002) grant.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Architectural Engineering
Volume 28 • Issue 4 • December 2022
Copyright
© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 28, 2021
Accepted: May 25, 2022
Published online: Jul 27, 2022
Published in print: Dec 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Dec 27, 2022
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Building materials
- Climates
- Connections (structural)
- Energy dissipation
- Engineering materials (by type)
- Engineering mechanics
- Environmental engineering
- Hydrologic engineering
- Hydrology
- Laminating
- Materials engineering
- Materials processing
- Meteorology
- Moisture
- Precipitation
- Rainfall
- Structural engineering
- Structural members
- Structural systems
- Structures (by type)
- Thermodynamics
- Water and water resources
- Wood and wood products
- Wood structures
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